Transcript Sentence Fragments

Sentence
Fragments
Overview
-What is a “fragment”
-Types of fragments
-How to fix fragments
-Activity
What is a sentence fragment?
Fragments are incomplete sentences.
 Usually, they are pieces of sentences that have
become disconnected from the main clause.
 You may notice fragments in the things that you
read – novels, newspaper articles, online articles,
magazines, etc. Sometimes fragments are used
stylistically in writing (to create emphasis)
 In formal, academic writing, however, you should
avoid fragments.

A complete sentence…
Names a subject – the who or what that
performs the action
 Has a complete verb that indicates tense,
person, and number.
 Includes at least one independent clause
and does not begin with a subordinating
word (a word that connects a dependent
clause to an independent clause)

An Independent Clause…

is a group of words that contains a subject
and a verb and expresses a complete
thought—an independent clause is a
simple sentence.
Examples


Simple Sentence—subject, verb, predicate
Rebecca
studied
Subject
Verb
Compound Sentence—at least two independent clauses connected by a coordinator/connector word
Rebecca
studied
in the coffee shop for her chemistry quiz,
Subject
Verb
Predicate
and later
Connecting word

in the coffee shop for her chemistry quiz.
Predicate (expresses what is true
about the subject)
she
Subject
wrote her paper.
Predicate
Complex Sentence—one independent clause (main clause) and one dependent clause
Rebecca
studied
in the coffee shop for hours
because
subject
Verb
Predicate
Subordinating word (Dependent
clause)
she
Subject
had
Verb
a chemistry quiz the next day.
Predicate
A Dependent Clause…



is a group of words that contains a subject and a verb but
does not express a complete thought.
A dependent clause cannot be a sentence.
Often you can identify a dependent clause because it
begins with a connecting (conjunctive or subordinating)
word—see the “Connecting Word List” handout to learn
what these words are).
Because Rebecca studied in the coffee shop for hours.
Although Rebecca studied in the coffee shop for hours.
And Rebecca studied in the coffee shop for hours.
(The thoughts are incomplete—they are fragments of thoughts.)
Examples of Fragments


No complete subject or verb: For example, the library.
Revision: For example, MSU built the library.
No subject: Built the library, for example.
 Revision: MSU built the library, for example.

Dependent clause only: Because students needed a
place to do research.
 Revision: MSU built the library because students needed

a place to do research.
Dependent Clause Fragments

These begin with a subordinating word. (See the
handout on “Connecting Words” for examples.)

They can be easily fixed by attaching the fragment
to nearby independent clause either
– with a comma (,) or
– by creating two sentences by deleting the subordinating
word at the beginning of the dependent clause.
– EXCEPTION: don’t use a comma (,) before “because”
Examples

Fragment:

Revision:
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Fragment:

Revision:
MSU offers many engineering majors. Such as electrical,
chemical, and industrial engineering.
MSU offers many engineering majors, such as electrical,
chemical, and industrial engineering.
I need to find a new roommate. Because the one I
have now isn’t working out too well.
I need to find a new roommate because the one I
have now isn’t working out too well.
More examples

Fragment:

Revision:

Revision:
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Fragment:

Revision:
The current city policy on housing is incomplete as it
stands. Which is why we believe the new plan should
be passed.
The current city policy on housing is incomplete as it
stands, which is why we believe thenew plan should be
passed.
Because the current city policy on housing is
incomplete as it stands, we believe the proposed
amendments should be passed.
Our group did not work well together for two reasons.
When members disagreed about priorities or fought
about how to divide the work.
Our group did not work well together for two reasons.
Members disagreed about priorities or fought about
how to divide the work.
Phrase Fragments
Often fragments are phrase fragments –
groups of words that lack a subject or
complete verb and are usually meant to be
modifiers or nouns.
 Phrase fragments usually begin with verbals,
or words that come from verbs, like putting
(gerund) or to put (infinitive).

What are Gerunds?

Gerunds—gerunds are verbals; they are words that come from
verbs and end with –ing. Gerunds can function like nouns or
subjects in sentences.
Traveling might satisfy your desire for new experiences.
Subject
They do not appreciate my
singing.
My cat's favorite activity is
sleeping.
The police arrested him
for speeding.
Direct Object
Subject Complement
Object of Preposition
What are Infinitives?
To wait
Subject
seemed foolish when action was required.
Everyone wanted
to go.
His ambition is
to fly.
Direct Object
Subject Complement
He lacked the strength to resist.
Adjective
We must study
to learn.
Adverb
Phrase Fragments
(beginning with verbals)

One way to fix this is to transform the phrase fragment into an independent clause.
Fragment:
Revision:
That summer we had so much fun. Fishing in the early morning,
splashing in the lake after lunch, exploring the woods before dinner,
and playing Scrabble until bedtime.
That summer we had so much fun. We fished in the early morning,
splashed in the lake after lunch, explored the woods before dinner,
and played Scrabble until bedtime.
Fragment:
t
Revision:
Coach Smith exemplified bad behavior by walking off the field in the middle of
he game. Leaving her team at a time when we needed her.
Coach Smith exemplified bad behavior by walking off the field in the middle of
the game. She left her team at a time when we needed her.
Fragment:
Revision:
Revision:
To run along the beach.
We run along the beach.
We love to run along the beach.
Fragment:
Revision:
Revision:
Playing outside in the winter.
The children like to play outside in the winter.
The children like playing outside in the winter.
Phrase Fragments
(beginning with verbals)

Another way to fix it is to attach the fragment to the part of the previous
sentence that it modifies.
Fragment:
Revision:
Fragment:
Revision:
That summer we had so much fun. Fishing in the early
morning, splashing in the lake after lunch, exploring
the woods before dinner, and playing Scrabble until
bedtime.
That summer we had so much fun, fishing in the early
morning, splashing in the lake after lunch, exploring
the woods before dinner, and playing Scrabble until bedtime.
Coach Smith exemplified
field in the middle of the
when we needed her.
Coach Smith exemplified
field in the middle of the
when we needed her.
bad behavior by walking off the
game. Leaving her team at a time
bad behavior by walking off the
game, leaving her team at a time
Phrase Fragments
with No subject or No Main Verb

Some fragments are not clearly pieces of sentences that have been left
unattached to the main clause; instead, they are written as main clauses
but lack a subject or a verb.
(No main verb)
 Fragment:

Revision:
A record of accomplishment beginning when you were first
hired.
A record of accomplishment began when you were first
hired.
(No subject or verb)
 Fragment:
A story with deep thoughts and emotions.
 Revision:
She told a story with deep thoughts and emotions.
(No main verb)
 Fragment:
 Revision:
Toys of all kinds everywhere.
Toys of all kinds were everywhere.
Mixed Constructions
Mixed Constructions start out one way (often with
long prepositional phrases) and then end with a
regular predicate.
 Usually the object of the preposition (often a
gerund, as in the last two examples) is intended as
the subject of the sentence.
 Therefore, removing the preposition at the
beginning of the sentence is usually the easiest
way to fix the fragment error.
 Look for sentences that begin with prepositional
phrases.

Mixed Constructions (continued)
Remember that prepositions are words that
show relationships between parts of
sentences.
 A prepositional phrase includes a
preposition, a noun or pronoun, and any
words that modify the noun or pronoun.
 Some common prepositional words and
phrases begin with the words listed on your
handout. (Look at your handout!)

Mixed Constructions: Examples
(No subject)
 Fragment:
 Revision:
(No subject)
 Fragment:

Revision:
(No subject)
 Fragment:
 Revision:
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Revision:
With the ultimate effect of all advertising is to sell the product.
The ultimate effect of all advertising is to sell the product.
(remove the preposition “with”)
By paying too much attention to disruptive students can make a
teacher grumpy.
Paying too much attention to disruptive students can make
teacher grumpy. (remove the preposition “by”)
For doing photography for another newspaper got Phil fired.
Doing photography for another newspaper got Phil fired.
(remove the preposition “for”)
Phil got fired for doing photography for another newspaper.
(rearrange the sentence)
Other Types of Fragments
Word Groups that Start with Transitions

Some fragments start with two- or three-word prepositions that
function as transitions, like as well as, as compared with, except for, in
addition to, in contrast with, in spite of, and instead of. (See the list of
prepositional phrases on your handout for more examples.)

Fragment:

Revision:
For sixty-five years, the growth in consumer spending
has been both steep and steady. As compared with
the growth in gross domestic product (GDP), which has
fluctuated significantly.
For sixty-five years, the growth in consumer spending
has been both steep and steady, as compared with the
growth in gross domestic product (GDP), which has
fluctuated significantly.
Other Types of Fragments
Words and Phrases that Introduce Examples
 It is always a good idea to check words groups beginning
with for example, like, specifically, such as, etc.


Fragment: Elizabeth I of England faced many dangers as a
princess. For example, falling out of favor with
her sister, Queen Mary, and being imprisoned in
the Tower of London.
Revision: Elizabeth I of England faced many dangers as a
princess. For example, she fell out of favor with
her sister, Queen Mary, and was imprisoned in
the Tower of London.
Other Types of Fragments
Appositives
 An appositive is a noun or noun phrase that renames a noun or
pronoun.

Fragment:
in

Revision:

Fragment:
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Revision:
In 1965, Lyndon Johnson increased the number of troops
Vietnam. A former French colony in
southeast Asia.
In 1965, Lyndon Johnson increased the number of troops
in Vietnam, a former French colony in southeast Asia.
Charlotte Perkins Gillman wrote “The Yellow Wallpaper.”
A story with deep thoughts and emotions.
Charlotte Perkins Gillman wrote “The Yellow Wallpaper,”
a story with deep thoughts and emotions.
Other Types of Fragments
Lists
 Usually, you can connect a list to the preceding sentence
using a colon. If you want to emphasize the list, consider
using a dash (em dash) instead.


Fragment: In the 1930s, three great band
leaders helped popularize Jazz. Louis
Armstrong, Benny Goodman, and Duke
Ellington.
Revision: In the 1930s, three great band leaders helped
popularize Jazz: Louis Armstrong, Benny
Goodman, and Duke Ellington.
Other Types of Fragments
Compound Predicates
 A compound predicate is made up of at least two verbs as well as their
objects and modifiers, connected by a coordinating conjunction such as
and, but, so, or, nor, for, and yet. The parts of the predicate have the
same subject and should be together in one sentence.

Fragment:

Revision:

Fragment:
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Revision:
The group gathered at dawn at the base of the mountain.
And assembled their gear in preparation for the
morning’s climb.
The group gathered at dawn at the base of the mountain
and assembled their gear in preparation for the morning’s
climb.
Ron and Tina packed their suitcases. And packed
some food as well.
Ron and Tina packed their suitcases and some food as
well.
Now You Try…

There are two exercises on your handout
that I’d like you to work on.

Then, look for fragments in your own work.